When does Warzone & Cold War Season 3 start? Release date, nuke event, more

Liam Mackay
Black Ops Cold War and Warzone Season 3

We’ve almost reached the end of Warzone and Black Ops Cold War Season 2, so when does Season 3 begin, and what does it have in store?

Ever since the integration of Black Ops Cold War into Warzone, we’ve seen a vast number of additions and changes to both games. The subsequent updates have allowed Verdansk to expand with Rebirth Island, and even incorporate Zombies into Warzone.

The Zombies invasion of Verdansk is about to reach a climax, and the highly-anticipated Season 3 of both Black Ops Cold War and Warzone is set to begin.

Here’s everything you need to know about Warzone and Cold War Season 3, including the release date, new weapons, and Operators.

Warzone & Cold War Season 3 start date

Black Ops Cold War and Warzone S3 roadmap

We’re now reaching the climax of Warzone Season 2, with Black Ops Cold War and Warzone Season 2 set to begin on April 22.

This will follow the highly-anticipated nuke event which is set to destroy modern-day Verdansk, bringing a major overhaul to the map in Season 3.

Black Ops Cold War has already received its Season 3 update, with slide-canceling having been removed, although the new content won’t be released until the Season goes live on April 22.

Warzone’s update will begin on April 21 at 9 PM PT, ahead of Season 3’s launch.

When is CoD: Warzone Season 2’s nuke event?

Warzone Season 2 nuke event

Zombies have now overrun Verdansk and Radiation Zones have consumed all of the areas that became infected over the course of Season 2.

This is set to culminate in a season-ending event on April 21, in which players are advised to “evacuate immediately.” This event will be multi-part, with the final stage beginning at 12 PM PT on April 22.

Here are the start times for the event:

  • 12 PM PT
  • 3 PM ET
  • 8 PM BST
  • 5 AM AEST (April 22)

As the different stages of the event are completed, the next objectives players will have to complete will be revealed.

After Warzone’s event has concluded, Season 3 of Black Ops Cold War and Warzone will officially begin.

Cold War & Warzone Season 3 weapons

Six new weapons have been confirmed for the Cold War and Warzone Season 3. Three will arrive at launch on April 22, and the other three will release over the course of the season.

The new weapons are as follows:

PPSH-41 SMG

Black Ops Cold War Warzone PPSH

The classic WW2 SMG, the PPSH-41, is making its debut in Cold War and Warzone Season 3’s free Battle Pass. Although having low damage per bullet, “its rapid-fire, high-capacity capabilities encourage an aggressive playstyle ideal for leading the charge in objective modes and clearing out tight spaces in Warzone.”

Swiss K31 Sniper Rifle

Swiss K31 in Cold War

A brand new bolt action will also arrive in Season 3’s Battle Pass – the Swiss K31. This will feel familiar to fans of the Kar98k as it has “exceptional accuracy, as well as fast rechamber and aiming speeds.” Expect this to be the perfect weapon for quickscoping in both Cold War and Warzone.

Ballistic Knife

Black Ops Cold War Ballistic Knife

Fans of the Black Ops series will be all-too-familiar with the power and fun of the Ballistic Knife. Doubling up as a “spring-action knife launcher” and a melee weapon, the Ballistic Knife is a fan favorite for Final Killcams and Play of the Game. This weapon won’t be in the Battle Pass, but will instead be released through a challenge yet to be revealed.

CARV.2, AMP63, and Baseball Bat

Black Ops Cold War and Warzone CARV2 Tactical Rifle

Three other weapons will release throughout Season 3. These are the CARV.2 Tactical Rifle, AMP63 SMG, and Baseball Bat Melee weapon. As with Season 2’s weapons, the E-Tool and ZRG 20mm, there will be challenges to unlock these new weapons when they release.

New Black Ops Cold War Season 3 maps

Maps often make or break a Call of Duty game, and Treyarch are adding four new maps to Cold War over the course of Season 3. There are three original maps, and the return of Black Ops 2’s Standoff, which is a favorite of competitive players and casual fans alike.

Black Ops Cold War Standoff map

Yamantau and Diesel will debut at the start of Season 3 on April 22. While Yamantau is exclusively played on 6v6, Diesel will be available for 6v6, 2v2, and 3v3 modes.

Then, later in the Season, Standoff will arrive, following the additions of Raid and Express in Seasons 1 and 2. And for fans of the large-scale mode, Duga will arrive for the Multi-Team modes, including the new Multi-Team Elimination mini battle royale.

New Cold War and Warzone Season 3 Operators

On top of all these exciting new weapons and maps, there are four new Operators arriving in Season 3 that will be playable in both Cold War and Warzone.

Captain Price Black Ops Cold War

At the launch of Season 3, Wraith will be available in the premium Battle Pass. This ex-Norwegian Intelligence Operator now working for Perseus will be available as soon as you purchase the Battle Pass, with a Legendary variant available at Tier 100.

Also, as a surprise treat for CoD fans, Captain Price will arrive in Cold War as a playable Operator. Called “Price ’84,” owners of Black Ops Cold War will get immediate free access to the fan-favorite Operator on April 22, and can take him into both Cold War multiplayer and Warzone.

Later in Season 3, Knight and Antonov will arrive, likely through Store Bundles. As the Season progresses, we’re likely to know more about these new Operators.

1980s revamp leaked for Warzone Season 3

We got a first look at what the next evolution of Verdansk will be in a celebrity commercial that was posted to Twitter. It showed the map getting a 1980s makeover with a specific focus on a few key areas.

Warzone's Verdansk Downtown

Stadium, Dam, Airport, and the surrounding forestry were the highlighted locations in the video, along with some changes in Downtown. Later, another possible teaser was discovered in Verdansk’s Superstore in the form of a poster for the 1980s Moscow Summer Olympics.

We expect more teasers for Season 3 to pop up around Verdansk and Cold War’s multiplayer, and the ones that have been found make Warzone’s 1980s overhaul seem all the more likely.


We’re only hours away from Warzone and Cold War Season 3, and its shaping up to be the biggest content drop yet.

Are you most looking forward to playing Warzone or Cold War in Season 3? Be sure to let us know on our Charlie INTEL Facebook Page and Charlie INTEL Twitter Page!

Image Credit: Activision